Stacking brace



Oct. 16, 1928.

f E. w. sYsrRoM ET AL STAGKING BRACE QwN SAN SQA.

, -EN im n rFiled June 16, 1927 Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

ERNEST W. SYS'IROIMZ AND .TAY F. WARREN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS T0 ROBERT' '.l.K ROMINE, 0F MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

sracxING imacn.

This invention relates to a stacking bracev particularly adapted for use in` connection with the piling or stacking of sheet metal at the final operation of a mill or` other production source for the purpose of aligning the edges of the sheets as they are successively placed in position to form the pile.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above character which is adapted to be placed in fixed relation with respect to a packing table or platform and which is of a portable character soy that it may be moved from place toplace` as desired. Another object of the invention is to provide the device with means which prevents its accidental tipping or tilting relative to the table as the sheets of metal are slid into position upon the packing table to be aligned one above the other and which likewise serves to prevent any accidental tipping or tilting of the table.

The above and other obj ects will appear in the following description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the stacking brace of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the p apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation a modified form I of stacking brace.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, and the method or mode of opera- -tion embodied therein, it is`.to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated `in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various Ways. Also, it

is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the pur-4 poseof description and not of limitation, and

it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claimshereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

The apparatus of this invention is preferably employed in connection with the method and apparatus for handling metal shown and described in a co-pending application Serial No. 177,005 filed March 21, 1927. As. the

In order to form a relatively uniform pile we provide at one end of the packing table or platform an apparatus designed particularly for accurately aligning one edge of the sheets as they are successively placed in position upon the table, 'so that after the requisite number of them have been so placed upon the table, the pile or pack is in readiness to receive the binding apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid application.

- The packing table or platform is shown as a whole at A and is rovided with relatively short legs A1 and a at preferably rectangular floor or supporting surface upon which may be positioned a plurality of spaced transversely extending wood members A2. At one end of the table is positioned the improved stacking brace or sheet aligning device of this invention Which is shown as a whole at B.

The brace B includes, preferably, a pair of means of retaining pins or bolts 14. The forward or free flanges 11'* present a flat and unobstructed surface which serves as a stop for the metal sheets of the pack S as they are placed in position atwise upon the table A.

In order to prevent the stacking brace or sheet aligning device B from tilting as the sheets of metal are slid into position upon the table to be aligned one above the other, 'and likewise to prevent any accidental tipping or tilting of the table A, we provide a relatively short angle 15 having a vertical flange 15* and a horizontal flange V15". The vertical flange of the angle is secured to the flanges 11'L by means of rivets or'the like 16. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the angle 15 is sel of the table Aand serve as v device B to tilt relative to the table since the suiicient length weight of the sheets upon the table is Sullicient to prevent'this.v By providing the retaining pins or bolts 14, any longitudinal or lateral movement of the device B relative to the floor and the table is prevented.

In connection with .the handling and aligning of relatively large sheets, it may be found desirable to provide a pair of stacking braces or sheet aligning devices rather than the `single'device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4 we have shown the use of two such devices each of which is of a construction identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance an angle bar 150 of is provided to interconnect the flanges l1a of each device B. The vertical flange 150a is secured to the flanges 11*` by `means of rivets 160 and it will be noted that the horizontal flange 150b underlies the edge of the floor or supporting surface of the ,sheets when stacked on a table or vtable A when the stacking braces are in fixed relation with respect to the table.

It will be understood, of course, that the wood blocks A2 in position upon the table A may be omitted and the sheets which form the pack S placed in position directly upon the floor or supporting surface of the table.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the flanges 11a of the braces B in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and t-he similar flanges of the pair of bracesB shown in Figs. 3 and 4, serve as a stop or abutting surface for tlie edges of the sheets as they are placed in position upon the table A. sliding the successive sheets into engagement with the flanges, a pile or pack of metal will be formed with the edges of the sheets thereof in strict vertical alignment. Moreover the impactof the sheets against the bars 11 will not result in displacing the stacking brace due to the retaining angle bar 15 extending beneath the stacking table.

We claim: v

1: A stacking brace for aligning metal platform, comprising an upright member adapted to abut against a side edge of the table, and an angle secured to said member andhaving 'a horizontal flange adapted to extend beneath the floor of the table in engagement therewith.

2. A vstacking brace for aligning metal sheets when stacked on a table or platform, comprising an upright member having a Hat 4face adapted toabut against `the table, and an inverted angle secured to eavier characterthan the angles 10 and4 connected with said Byl av side edge of said member and having a horizontal flange adapted to extend beneath the floorvof the table in engagement therewith.

3. A stacking brace for aligning me-tal sheets when stacked on a table or platform,

comprising a pair of vertical angle bars posi tioned back to back and having oppositely extending flanges lying in the same plane and adapted to be posltioned at table, and an angle secured to said flanges and having an out-turned horizontal flange adapted to project beneath the floor of the table to prevent tilting of said brace.

4. A stacking brace for aligning super- 4posed metal sheets, comprising a 'substantially L-shaped metal frame, a gusset plate. frame for bracing the same, and an angle lcarried by said frame for the edge of the l engagement with the under side of a packing table.

' 5. A device for aligning the edges of metal sheets placed flatwise upon a. packing table or support, comprising angles providing a base for said device, a pair of upright angles connected'with said horizontal angles, a gusset-plate connected with both pairs of angles for reinforcing and bracing the device, and means carried by said upright angles for engagement with said packing table to prevent relative tilting movement of the device and table.

6. A portable device for aligning the edges of metal sheets placed flatwi'se upon a packing a pair of horizontal table or support, comprising a pair of horizontal angles providing a ,base for said de'- vice, a pair of upright .angles connected with said horizontal angles, a gusset plate connected with both pairs of angles for reinforcingand bracing the device, and anangle member carried by said upright angles for-engagement beneath said packing table to prevent relllltive tilting movement of the device and ta e. v

7. A device for aligning .the edges of metal sheets placed latwise upon a packing table or buck, comprising a vpair of horizontal angles providing a base for said device, a right angles connected with said angles, a gusset plate connected with both pairs of angles for reinforcing vand bracing the device, means carried by said upri ht angles for engagement beneath said packlng table to prevent relative tilting movement of the device and table, by said horizontal angles floor. f y. v

8. In an apparatus for lforming packs or piles of sheet`metal, the combination of a packing table for receiving the sheets, a

air of upv orizontal and means' carried to prevent relative shifting movement of the device upon the' stacking'brace. comprising spaced upright members adapted to be positioned at one end of sald' table, and means for nterCOlmeting said members and for. engaging the table toprevent the accidental displacement of said members by impact of the sheets.

9. In an apparatus for forming packs or members adapted to be posltioned at one end of said table, and a horizontal anglebar connecting said members together and having a horizontal flange adapted to project beneath the floor of the table and cooperate therewith to prevent displacement of said members by impact of the metal sheets.

10. A stackin brace for aligning metal sheets when stac ed on a table or latform, comprising an upri ht member ad) project above the ta n a side edge thereof, and a member carried by said upright member` and extending free.- ly beneath the said edge of the table in en-v apted to le and t0 abut againstA gagement therewith to preventdisplacement of said upright member by impact off-the sheets.

Inv testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

ERNEST W. SYSTROM. JAY F. WARREN. y 

